Type-writing machine.



J. C. McLAUGHLIN.

TYPE wnmm; MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED JULY 3!. I915.

1,21 8,287. Patented Mar. 6; 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FIG. 5. I

INVENTOR:

WITNESS/E; Q

111 MW ATTOR EY.

,WIVTNIESS s: L A X Mg 75 BY W Y.

J. C. McLAUGHLlN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31.1915.

1,21 8,287. I Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG-11.

INVENTUR:

' v ATTOR JOHN C. MoLAUGI-ILIN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed July 31. 1915.

I '0 all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. MCLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typel/Vriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to cardholders and guides for typewriting machines; and more particularly to holders of the kind which have no line-space movement themselves, but which direct and hold the card to the platen, while the latter rotates, and by its rotation, feeds the card.

Such holders have commonly, either guided and held the card insecurel'y or unreliably; or when constructed to overcome this difficulty, have so engaged the card that friction on the holder has caused slipping of the card on the platen, and resultant 1naccurate line-spacing of the writing". One

object of the present invention is to provide aholder, Which, while accurately guiding the card to the printing point, and there holding it firmly against the platen, nevertheless causes no apparent slipping of the card on the platen as the card is fed.

Another object of the invention is a holder, such as mentioned, which may be set or readily adjusted to any desired part of the platen; 01' adjusted for cards of any desired size; thus being not only extremely convenient and serviceable, but also relieving the platen of the local wear heretofore due to holders which have had a fixed position on the machine.

In its preferred form, the holder of the present invention comprises a pair of bands or rings adapted to be slipped over the platen and brought to position for engagement, one with each of the side edges of the card. The rings or bands have indentations or openings in their opposing edges through which the edges of the card may pass into the space between the ring and the platen, thence to be fed around the platen to the printing point, and thence out through the openings. In order that the platen may grip the card to feed the same, the rings are preferably either split spring rings, or carry means for resiliently pressing the card to the platen; and, in order that friction of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Serial No. 42,886.

the card on the ring may not cause slipping and inaccurate feed of the card by the platen, the ring carries anti-friction devices, preferably a continuous ball-race; upon the balls of which the spring or other resilient Y means bears to cause the balls to hold the card to the platen. The rings are held to the platen frame in any suitable manner; but, in the preferred form of the invention, for adjustment longitudinally of the platen, they may be attached to side guides such as are adjustable lengthwise of the platen in a manner heretofore understood. Such side guides may be used in conjunction with the holders of the present invention to cause the cards to be fed properly to the platen.

It is obvious that the holders, when resilient bands, will accommodate themselves to platens of different diameters, and to the irregularities of any platen, so that a secure hold of the platen on the card may always be had: also that a large gripping surface for the platen on the card may be had.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in front perspective showing a form of the invention assembled on the platen, and attached to side gages on the paper shelf, of atypewriting machine.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the unassembled right-hand spring and carrying ring, and the connected side gage.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the platen with the spring thereon, the spring being broken to show its ball-race and its screw attachment to the carrying ring, and a card being shown in place on the platen.

Fig. '5 is a fragmentary front view, partly in cross section, showing the spring, the carrying ring, and the ball-race, in their normal relative positions on the platen.

Fig. 6 is a View in front perspective showing a modified form of the carryingvrings and springs assembled on. the platen, with their connections to the side gages.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8' is a plan -View of the left-hand spring and carrying ring of Fig. 6, with the ball-race indicated therein.

' paper shelf 19 and is shifted therealong.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing still a11- being assembled on the platen.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged front view, partly in cross section, of the modified form of carrying ring and spring of Fig. 9, with the ball-race therebetween.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 9, looking from the right.

F ig: 12 is a detail view in perspective looking from the left, of the right-hand section of the ball-race of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a sectional side view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 9.

As shown in the drawings, to provide for longitudinal adjustment of the card guides attached to side gages or guides 15, such as are shown in United States Letters Pat-j ent to Garsden, 1,016,686, dated February 6, 1912. For so securing the card-holders,

each of the gages 15 has an extension or ear 16, to the end of which the ring 17 of the corresponding holder is screwed. The upstanding gage plate 15 is bent up from a plate 18 which lies down on the face of the A rail 20 is mounted in brackets 21 by means of screws 22, and the brackets 21 are fastened to the platen frame 23 by the screws 24. The gages are attached to brackets or carriers 25 on the rail 20, for adjust-.

ment along the shelf 19; each carrier 25 having bent ends 26 to form a yoke with bores, whereby it is mounted upon the rail 20. Each gage carrier is splined on the rail 20 by means of a spring 27, pressing a he 1 28 into a groove 29 in the rail 20, whereby the carrier can be freely moved alongthe rail for adjustment, and main tained against accidental displacement by the pressure of spring 27. Ears 30 on the carriers 25 support pivot pins 31, to which are fastened the gages 15; the plates 18 of the latter curving over the rolled rim 32 of thepaper shelf, and having cars 33 by means of which they are secured to the pins 31. The gages 15 have heretofore been read ily swung around the pivot pins 31 to and from the paper shelf. When attached to the rings 17, with the latter on the platen '14, the gages do not however have such movement. Springs 3% have heretofore been provided to maintain the gage against the shelf; the gage being so disposed that only its lower edge 35 may touch the shelf, so that the visible part of the shelf may not be marred or scratched when the gage is adjusted therealong.

The platen 1a is mounted on the shaft 13, ournaled in the end pieces 23 of the platen rame. The rings 17 are of a size to it asily over the platen, so that they may be lid along the platen, and may not interere with the rotation of the latter. In the *ig. 1 form of the invention, the springs 37, y means of which the card is held to the ,--platen, are rings of spring metal, split at 38 and havin overla 3111 ta ered ends 39 0 that the springs may contract to exert xi :;the desired pressure on the card, and so that they may expand to permlt the card 0 be introduced and fed between them and he platen. The resiliency of the spring ands also permits the same to be accommolated to platens of varying diameters, and o variations in diameter of the same platen.

mach spring engages one edge of the card. The opposing edges of thetwo springs are urled or crimped as at 4:0, to provide endess races for the balls 41. The halls fill jthe races and provide a continuous ball bearng for the cards in the passage of the latter round the platen. Only by means of the alls ll, do the springs 37 bear against the ard orplaten.

In assembling the Fig. 1 form of the deice, the spring 37 is slipped over the ring 7 until the-balls a1 can be engaged and emporarily retained in the ball-race by a vedge-li'ke or tapered edge 42 of the ring 7. Thus together, the ring and spring,

"with the balls held thereon, are slipped over the end of the platen, which for this purpose, is removed from its frame. Once on the platen, the spring is shifted longitudinally on the ring to remove the latter from the balls 11; since the platen will now hold the balls in the race, and the ring must not interfere with the card or the balls. To permit this relative shifting of the ring and spring, while maintaining a permanent connection of the two the ring carries headed screws L3 which pass through L-shaped slots @24- in the springs; the joints thus formed being in effect bayonet joints; of which there are preferably several at intervals around the ring. In relatively shifting the spring and ring to move the latter to and from the ball-race, each screw 43 moves along a part 15 of the slot, in a line parallel to the axis of the connected elements. hen this ring 17 is separated from the ball-race (see Fig. 5), the screw strikes the base of the slot, and the spring is then given a slight turn to cause the screw to enter a part 46 of the slot, at right angles to the part 15 thereof; in which position relative longitudinal shifting of the elements is prevented. The spring is then locked against turning, by a screw as which is passed into the ring 17, through a hole 49 in the edge of the spring. This locking is desirable, not only in order that the spring may be held from turning on the platen, but also in order that it may not accidentally be shifted longitudinally on the ring out of proper engagement with the card, and further in order that accidental displacement of the gage 15 may not take place to cause the ring to interfere with the card at the ball-race. Sufficient space is allowed, between the heads of the screws 43 and the underlying spring to permit of expansion and contraction of the latter. The head of the screw 48 however is turned down against the ring 17, as the notch 49 in which it sits is wider than the screwhead to permit expansion of the spring 37, without however permitting the latter to move far enough to bring the screws 43 to the slot 45.

The opposing edges of the two sprlngs and the ball-races thereof, are turned laterally or offset, as at 50, to provide space between the two ball-races for the entrance and exit of the cards to and from the holders:

and platen. Except at the bends 50 in the edges of the springs, the distance between the two ball-races is less than"the width of the card, so that the side edges of the latter will lie between the balls and the platen when the card is inserted. The curled edges of the springs 37 at the bends 5O serve as lateral guides for the cards as the same are inserted and fed, for proper positioning of the cards, and to prevent lateral displacement of the same. The gages 15 may also serve as side guides for the card to assure true positioning of the same, and for this purpose, may be of height enough to permit the cards to be fed in a straight line between the 'ages 15 to the offsets in the ballrace. Then the gages 15 are so used they are in abutment with those walls of the 01% sets which collaborate with them to guide the card. To place the card 51 in the machine, the leading or top edge 52 thereof may be inserted under the springs at the points 53 of the bends in the ball-races, and, by line-feed movement of the platen and card, the latter may be brought around the platen to Fig. '2 position. When, however,

the gages 15 are used as guides, the card may be placed by presenting its bottom edge 54 to the platen just under the forward olfset 50 of the bends 50 in the ball-races, and then turning the platen with the card in counter line-feed direction to Fig. 2 position. As the card is led in, the springs 37 yield to accommodate it, and thereafter cause it to be held snugly to the platen at the printing point; nor can it belly out from the platen at any point. As it is fed around the platen in the printing operation, the top edge of the card crosses out at the top of the platen behind Elie bottom edge of the card,

ring is attached by an ear as shown in Fig. 2. The card is withdrawn at the top of the platen by a pull on the projecting portion thereof. The balls permit easy movement of the platen with the card, although the latter is pressed against the platen over a large surface thereof. The card cannot therefore readily slip or be inaccurately fed.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the spring is not shiftable 0n the ring 61, but, the beveled edge 62 of the ring, forms a permanent part of the ball-race. The balls 41 at all times are held in the pocket or race formed by the edge 62 of the ring on the one hand, and

the curled-over portion 63 of the spring on the other hand. As in Fig. l, the spring bears upon the balls to press the same toward the platen. In order that the ring 61 (which is of heavier material than in the Fig. 1 form) may not interfere with the card nor touch the platen at that side, and that the edge of the card may pass under the ball-race, and that the balls may protrude from the ball-race to engage the card, the ring is countersunk or cut away at 6%. The spring overlies the ring, and is secured thereto by headed screws 65, which pass through slots 65 in the spring, into the ring. The slots allow for expansion and contraction of the spring, and play for the spring is allowed between the heads of the screws and ring for insertion of the card. The 66 to the gage 15 as in Fig. 1. The edges and ring 61 forming the ball-race have a bend 67 like the bend 50in Fig. 1, and for the same purposes; and the operation of. the device, except for the differences in the assembling of the same, (already noted) is similar to that of the Fig. 1 form.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 13, the ball-race is formed in part by a ring 70 similar to the ring 61 of Figs. 7 and 8, and in part by another ring 71 which embraces the platen beyond the ring 7 0. These rings are oppositely beveled at their edges 72 and 73 to hold the balls 41, while permitting the balls to project out of the race for engagement with the card. The ring 71 is of the same internal diameter as the countersink 75 in the ring 70, to allow space for the cards, and resilient pressure of the balls on the cards. Straps 76,-which may be integral with the ring 71, secure the latter, by means of screws 77, to the ring 70. In this form of the invention, the spring which exerts a resilient pressure on the balls, is a leaf spring 7 O, held in the space between the straps 76 and the ring 7 O, and which embraces the ring 70 and bears on the balls, but is held against excessive expansion by the straps 76. It does not entirely encircle the platen, but is discontinued of the spring 60 over the offset part 78 of the ball-race, because, at this part of the ball-race, the card is not beneath the balls. A plate 78, secured at its ends to two of the straps 76 may serve to hold the balls in that part of the race which is offset. The spring is prevented from moving around the platen by its ends abutting against the plate 78 but is free to expand and contract as in the case of the spring 37. The opposing ring edges 72 and 73 are curved in or offset at 78 for the purposes stated in connection with the bend 50 in the spring 37v of Fig. 1.

Feed rolls 80 and 81, such as are common in Underwood typewriting machines, are not necessary in conjunction with the holders of the present invention, but may, if desired, and if the holders and rolls are positioned to permit it, engage the card between the opposing solders; and such rolls may serve to hold paper in the usual way when the card-holders are moved to the ends of the platen, or removed therefrom, for ordinary writing purposes. The rollers 80 and 81 are on shafts 82 and 83 respectively, supported on arms 84 and 85 mounted to rock on a shaft 86, and held against the platen by springs 87. In order that the pressure of the rollers on the platen may be relieved when desired, the arm 8 forms a bell-crank with an arm 88; and the arm 85 a bell-crank with an arm 89; the arms 88 and 89 being held by the tension of the springs 87 against Y flats 90 on a'rock shaft 91. For rocking the shaft 91 so as to turn the flats 90 and thereby to rock the bell-cranks and depress the rollers, the shaft 91 has fast thereto an arm 92 connected by a link 93 with an armOe fast to a shaft 95, which also carries a key 96. Pressure on the key draws up the link to depress the rollers. The rollers may be depressed to permit the cardholder rings and springs to be moved along the platen, and may be held depressed by dead centers at the flats 90, thus being held away from the card-holders and from the path of the cards to permit easier movement of the lat ter. The rings 17, or their equivalent, of the card-holders, may be disconnected from the gages 15 to permit the latter to be used for their usual purpose.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A. card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a ring adapt ed to surround and embrace the platen, and a series of rolling elements carried by the ring and encircling the platen to provide a frictionless, card-guiding interior surface for the ring- 2. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a ring adapted to surround and embrace the platen, a series of rolling elements carried by the ring and encircling the platen to. provide a frictionless, card-guiding interior surface for the ring, and means for effecting a resilient inward pressure on the anti friction elements.

3. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a ring adapted to embrace the platen, an endless ballrace in said ring arranged to encircle the platen, and balls therein to provide a frictionless, card-guiding interior surface therefor.

4:. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a contractile split spring ring adapted to embrace the platen, and rolling elements carried by the ring to provide a frictionless, card-guiding interior surface therefor, said ring operable by its contractility to press said rolling elements against the work on the platen.

5. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a ring adapted to surround; and embrace the platen, and rolling elements carried by the ring to pro vide a frictionless, card-guiding interior surface therefor, said ring being cut or shaped at a part thereof to permit the side edge of a card to be led into the ring and around over the anti-friction elements therein.

6. A card-holding attachment of annular shape to surround and embrace the rotary platen of a typewriting machine, said annular holder being indented at one edge thereof, so that as a card is fed onto the platen, a side edge thereof may pass through said indentation and under the edge of the holder. 7

7. A card-holding attachment of annular shape to embrace the rotary platen of a type writing machine, said annular holder being indented at one edge thereof, so that as a card is fed onto the platen, a side edge there of may pass through said indentation and under the edge of the holder, and a ballracewith balls therein following the edge of said annular holder around the same, and around the indentation therein, said balls providing a continuous,frictionless, interior, card-guiding surface for the holder.

8. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a contractile split spring band adapted to embrace a rotary platen, said band being curled at one edge to form a ball-race, and balls in said race for engagement with a card inserted between the holder and the platen, said band operable by its contractility to cause the balls to press the card against the platen.

9. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a split spring band adapted to embrace a rotary platen, said band being curled at one edge to form a ball-race, balls in said race for engagement with a card inserted between the holder and the platen, and a ring on which the spring band is secured, said ring and band being relatively shiftable so that in one position, the ring may hold the balls in the race, and in another position, be, clear of the race.

10. A card-holding attachment for type- Writing machines, comprising a band adapted to embrace the platen, a split spring plate encircling the band and extending at one side beyond the edge of said band, a ball-race in said extended portion of the spring plate, balls in said race at the interior surface of the spring plate, and screws projecting from the hand through circumferential slots in the spring plate for holding the spring plate to the band while permitting expansion and contraction of the spring 'plate.

11. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising a band adapted to embrace the platen, a split spring plate encircling the band and extending at one side beyond the edge of said band, a ballrace in said extended portion of the spring plate, balls in said race at the interior surface of the spring plate, and screws projecting from the band through circumferential slots in the spring plate for holding the spring plate to the band while permitting expansion and contraction of the spring plate, said slots having also offset portions to permit'the spring plate to be shifted on the band to move the ball-race to and from the edge of the band, whereby the latter may be made to serve at times as a means for retaining the balls in the race.

12. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand card-holding devices on the platen, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a band embracing the platen, a split spring plate embracing the band and projecting beyond the edge thereof toward the card to overlap the edge of the card, a ball-race in said overlapping portion of the spring plate, balls in said race to hold the edges of the card against the platen, means for securing the spring plate to the band, and means for securing the band to the frame; said overlapping edges of the spring plates being indented or cut-away at places to permit the edges of the card to be passed into and out of the devices.

13. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen -frame,'right and left-hand card-holding devices on the platen, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a band embracing the platen, a split spring plate embracing the band and projecting beyond the edge thereof toward the card to overlap the pansion and contraction of the spring plate,

and means for securing the band to the frame; said overlapping edges of the spring plates being indented or cut-away at places to permit the edges of the card to be passed into and out of the devices.

14. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand card-holding devices on the platen, between whichmlevices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a band embracing the platen, a split spring plate embracing the band and projecting beyond the edge thereof toward the card, to overlap the edge of the card, a ball-race in said overlapping portion of the spring plate, balls .in said race to hold the edges of the card against the platen, means for securing the spring late to the band, and means for securing the band to the frame; said overlapping edges of the spring plates being indented or cut-away at places to permit the edges of the card to be passed into and out of the devices, and said ball-races being deflected past said cutaway places to be continuous around the platen.

15. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand card-holding devices, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a ball-race encircling the platen, and means for exerting a. spring pressure on the balls in the race to cause the balls to hold the underlying edge of a card to the platen. 1

16. In a typewriting machine, 'a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand card-holding devices, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a ball-race encircling the platen, means for exerting aspring pressure on the balls in therace to cause the balls to hold the underlying edge of a card to the platen, means for securing the devices to the platen frame, and means whereby the devices may be adjusted along the platen frame to accommodate cards of different widths.

17. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand oard-holding devices, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a ball-race encircling the platen, and means for exerting a spring pressure on the balls in the race to cause the balls to hold the underlying edge of a card to the platen, the ball-races of the two devices being curved apart over a short are of their length to permit the edges of the card to be passed into and out of the devices.

18. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand card-holding devices, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a ball-race encircling the platen, and means for exerting a spring pressure on the balls in the race to cause the balls to hold the underlying edge of a card to the platen, the ball-races of the two de vices being curved apart over a short are of their length to permit the edges of the card to be passed into and out of the devices, and the opposing edges of the races at such curves serving as lateral guides for the side edges of the cards.

19. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, right and left-hand card-holding devices, between which devices the card is adapted to be fed, each of said devices comprising a spring plate embracing the platen, an endless ballrace in the plate, andmeans whereby the edges of the card may be fed into the devices between the balls and platen by rotation of the platen.

20. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, card-holding straps embracing the platen and spaced apart so that each may hold one edge of the card to the platen as the card is fed to the printing line, connections for said straps to the platen frame, means whereby said connections may be shifted along the platen frame with the straps, to hold the straps in selected positions on the platen, and guides carried by said adjustable connections for directing the side edges of the card to insert-openings therefor between the straps and the platen.

21. In a tyaewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, card-holding straps embracing the platen and spaced apart so that each may hold one edge of the card to the platen as the card is fed to the printing line, connections for said straps to the platen frame, means whereby said connections may be shifted along the platen frame with the straps, to hold the straps in selected positions on the platen, and guides carried by said adjustable connections for directing the side edges of the card to insert-openings therefor between the straps and the platen; said insert-openings being indentations or offsets in the edges of the straps.

22. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, card-holding straps embracing the platen and spaced apart so that each may hold one edge of the card to the platen as the card is fed to the printing line, connections for said straps to the platen frame, means whereby said connections may be shifted along the platen frame with the straps, to hold the straps in selected positions on the platen, and guides carried by said adjustable connections for directing the side edges of the card to insert-openings therefor between the straps and the platen; said insert-openings being indentations or offsets in the edges of the straps, and the edges of the straps at said indentations or offsets serving also-as side guides for the card.

23. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen," a platen frame, card-holding split spring rings embracing the platen and spaced. apart so that each may hold one edge of the card to the platen as the card is fed to the printing line, connections for said rings to the platen frame, means whereby said connections may be shifted along the platen frame with the rings, to hold the rings in selected ositions on the platen, and guides carried by said adjustable connections for directing the side edges of the card to insert-openings therefor between the rings and the platen, said insertopenings being indentations or offsets in the edges of the rings. I

24:. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, card-holding straps embracing the platen and spaced apart so that each may hold one edge of the card to the platen as the card is fed to the printing line, spring-pressed balls in ball-races at the interior of said straps whereby the straps engage the edges of the card, connections for said straps to the platen frame, means whereby said connections may be shifted along the platen frame with the straps, to hold the straps in selected positions on the platen, and guides carried by said adjustable connections for directing the side edges of the card to insert-openings therefor between the straps and the platen.

25. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, card-holding straps embracing the platen and spaced apart so that each may hold one edge of the card to the platen as the card is fed to the printing line, connections for said straps to the platen frame, means whereby said connections may be shifted along the platen frame with the straps, to hold the straps in selected posi tions on the platen, guides carried by said adjustable connections for directing the side edges of the card to insert-openings therefor between the straps and the platen, and means whereby the straps may be disconnected from the guide-carrying connections so that the guides may be used independently of the card-holder.

26. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, a pair of rings emb "acing the platen and spaced apart thereon for cooperation with the opposite side edges of a card, each ofsaid rings having the edge thereof toward the card shaped to form part of a ball-race, a spring carried by each of said rings, forming another part of said ball-race, and acting to press the balls therein toward the platen, and means for inserting the cards and guiding the same around the platen to the printing line with the side edges thereof held to the platen by the balls in said races.

27. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, a pair of rings embracing the'platen and spaced apart thereon for cotipcration with the opposite side edges of a card, each of said rings having the edge thereof toward the card shaped to form part of a ball-race, a spring carried by each of said rings, forming another part of said ball-race, and acting to press the balls therein toward the platen, and means for inserting the cards and guiding the same around the platen to the printing line with the side edges thereof held to the platen by the balls in said races, said rings being undercut or countersunk to clear the platen adjacent the ball-races so that the edges of the cards may ass between the rings and the platen.

28. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, a pair of rings embracing the platen and spaced apart thereon for coiiperation with the opposite side edges of a card, each of said rings having the edge thereof toward the card shaped to form part of a ball-race, a split spring plate carried by each of said rings and secured thereto by a pin-and-slot connection which permits expansion and contraction of the spring plate on the ring, said spring plate forming an other part of said ball-race, and acting to press the balls therein toward the platen, and means for inserting the cards and guiding the same around the platen to the printing line with the side edges thereof held to the platen by the balls in said races.

- 29. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a platen frame, a pair of rings embracing the platen and spaced apart thereon for cooperation with the opposite side edges of a card, each of said rings having the edge thereof toward the card shaped to form part of a ball-race, and a spring carried by each of said rings, forming another part of said ball-race, and acting to press the balls therein toward the platen, said ball-races and the edges of said rings and springs at the opposite sides of the card having oppositely directed bends or offsets therein over a limited arc thereof to permit the edges of the card to be fed to and around the platen between the same and the balls in said races.

30. In a typewriting machine, a .rotary platen, a platen frame, a pair of rings embracing the platen and spaced apart thereon for cooperation with the opposite side edges of a card, each of said rings having the edge thereof toward the card shaped to form part of a ball-race, collars on the platen, one connected to each of said rings, but spaced therefrom to form with said rings endless ballraces, balls in said races, springs embracing said ball-races to press the balls therein toward the platen, and means for inserting the cards and guiding the same around the platen to the printing line with the side edges thereof held to the platen by the balls in said races.

81. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a card-holding attachment comprising a ring surrounding the platen, and a series of anti-friction rollers carried by said ring and encircling the platen, said rollers being closely spaced around the entire circumference of the platen and providing an anti-friction guiding surface to surround the platen.

32. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a card-holding attachment comprising means forming a ball-race surrounding the platen, an annular series of anti-friction balls in said race, and means to press said balls with a yielding pressure toward the platen, said balls forming an annular card-guiding surface surrounding the platen.

33. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a roller platen, of work-piece holding means comprising a contractile split ring embracing and surrounding the platen, and a series of anti-friction rollers carried by the ring and closely spaced in an annular series surrounding the platen, said rollers providing with the platen, a guideway through which the edge of a work-piece may be guided.

34. In a typewriting machine, thecombination with a roller platen, of work-sheet holding and guiding means comprising a ring surrounding the platen, and formed with a raceway completely surrounding the platen, and a series of anti-friction balls in said raceway closely spaced around the entire circumference of the platen, said ring and series of balls being ofiset at one point to provide a guideway for the introduction gffit work-piece between the platen and said a s. a

35. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising rightand left-hand annular card-holding and guiding devices, each formed to, surround a roller platen, the inner opposing faces of said devices being shaped to provide a guideway for the introduction of a card to be. guided into position between the platen and said guiding devices, and a series of anti-friction rollers carried by each of said devices and arranged to surround the platen and form an anti-friction guiding surface to bear against the outer face of the card as it is fed around the platen.

36. A card-holding attachment for typewriting machines, comprising right and le "-hand annular card-holding and guiding devices, each formed to surround a roller platen, the inner o posing faces of said devices being siaped to provide a guideway for the introduction of a card to be guided into position between the platen and said guiding devices, and a series of anti-friction rollers carried by each ofsaid devices and arranged to surround the platen and form an anti-friction guiding surface to bear against the outer face of the card as it is fed around the platen, said devices each comprising an elastic contractile ring whereby the anti-friction rolls are caused to hold the card or workpiece with a yielding pressure against the surface of the platen.

37. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a rotary platen and a paper table at the introductory side thereof, of a gage for the side edge of a work-piece, said gage mounted over the paper-table, a cai'd liolding and guiding device connected to said gage and surrounding the platen and forming with the platen a guideway surrounding the latter for the edge of the workpiece as it is fed around the platen, said gage and guiding device comprising a contractile spring ring, and an annular series of anti-friction rolls surrounding the platen and held thereagainst by said ring with a yielding pressure.

38. In a typewriting machine, the combination wlth a rotary platen, of feed rolls bearing against the platen and cooperating therewith to feed work-pieces around the platen, said rolls being arranged at intervals lengthwise of the platen, and card-holding and guiding rings surrounding the platen at positions lengthwise of the platen intermetherewith to feed work-pieces around the platen, said rolls being arranged at intervals lengthwise of the platen, card-holdlng and guiding rings surrounding the platen at positions lengthwise of the platen intermediate said rolls, said rings each comprising an annular series of anti-friction bearings surrounding the platen between which and the platen the edges of a work-piece may be guided, said rings adjustable lengthwise of the platen, and means for moving said feeding rolls away from the platen and permitting said rings to be moved along the platen to positions beyond the feed rolls.

40. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a roller platen, of a card-holding device comprising a ring surrounding the platen, and an annular series of antifriction rollers supported by said ring and encircling the platen, said ring having a guideway to direct a card into position between the platen and ring, said guideway formed to permit the card to be fed between the platen and said anti-friction rolls in either direction, so that the card may be introduced and fed to printing position by either a backward or forward rotation of the platen.

JOHN C. MOLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

E. B. LIBBEY ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

